Ordnance



sept 14, 1943; J; c. mmm Em. 2,329,308 y 'or u 1mcE v y' Filed Marin;y 13;"1942 :sheets-sheet 1l Senn 14, 1943. J. TRQTTR mL 2,329,308

ORDNANCE Filed March 13A. 1942 3 Sheets- $1109.15 5

INV NTORS v NEYS Patented Sept. 14, i943 ONANCE .lohn C. Trotter, "Williamsville, Vami .lohn L. Jewett, Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Bulalo, N. Y.

Application March 13, i942, Serial No. 434,528

(Cl. 89m37.5)

14 Claims.

This invention relates to ordnance, and more particularly to mounts and ammunition feed mechanisms for use in conjunction with automatic firearms of the machine gun type, or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved mounting arrangement for machine guns or automatic cannon in conjunction with military vehicles such as tanks, airplanes, or the like. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein there is incorporated in improved manner an ammunition feeding means accessory to the usual ammunition feed mecha-- nism of the gun. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the purpose described wherein provision is made for aiming adjustments of the mounted gun in improved manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the spcification hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a gun mount and an ammunition feed assist mechanism of the invention installed Within the gunners cockpit of a tank or airplane, or the like;`

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the ammunition feed assist portion of the mechamsm;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the mechanism of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan thereof with the machine gunremoved.

The invention is illustrated inthe drawings in connection with a machine gun which is indicated generally at ID as being mounted within an enclosure I2 comprising a gunners cockpit canopy of an airplane, or a tank, or the like. The gun l0 is illustrated as being tted with a telescopic sight M, and is carriedby a pair-of parallel bearer tubes lli-l5 at opposite sides thereof so as to be reciprocable relative to the bearer tubes in response to recoil and counterrecoil forces of the gun firing operation. The

numeral 2d. A screw connection device 2B is provided on the column 2t so as to register with the lower end of the bracket whenever-the latter is in operative position. against the co1- umn, as illustrated by solid lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, it will be understood that the bracket 2u is arranged to be normally held rigidly against the column 24 by means of connection devices 22--26 in such manner that the yoke arms l8l8 extend substantially vertically above the upper end of the column 24 to support the gun lll at the upper end of the column while being freely rotatable relative thereto about the hori-y zontal trunnion axis of the bearings ll-l'! for elevational aiming adjustments of the gun. Also, since the gun support-yoke is free to rotate within the socket i9 of the bracket 2li the gun may be readily shifted for azimuth adjustments of the gun aim relative tothe mount- 1 ing column 2li.

However,` whenever the gun battery is inactive, the screw connector 26 maybe manually released so that the bracket 2li is free to pivot in clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2) as to the broken line position thereof in Fig. 2, whereby the gun lil may be stowedi ybelow the deck portion 2B of the gun battery enclosure, as indicated by the broken line position of the gunv barrel atl 2Q (Fig. l) y Thus, the gun will at-all times be readily available for quick withdrawal from stowed position into upright firing attitude,

whereupon the' bracket 2u will register withthe connection device Z6 :for manual locking of the gun. yoke bracket relative to the mounting co1- umn 2li in gun operative position.

The gun mount column 2d is of modified Z` ingupper and lower end portions. The lowerv end portion 3a is .supported upon stationary structure of the gun battery housing by means' 5 of verucanyspaced bearings aja- 3a. Thus, the

bearer tubes each carry rigidly extending bracket 1.

about a horizontal axis extending through the aligned trunnionbearings 'l-ll for elevational adjustments of the gun aim.

The gun mount yoke I8 is mounted atjts 'lower end so as to be freely pivotable within a socket portion i9 of a bracket 20. The bracket 20 is connected intermediately or its endsby., means of a pivot pin 22 to the upper end of a rIhus,

gun Amount column is normally free to rotate abouta vertical axis extending through the bearings .3638 whereupon the upper end portion 30 of Vthe column will be thereby. caused to sweepr in an arc about said axis.

. A forked bracket dll is pivoted at 42 by means ofk a transverse pin to the lower 'end portion 3,4v

of the gun mount column, and-is arranged toI extend rearwardly therefrom to support a gunners`Iseat M at such position that the gunner' may be comfortably seated thereon while straddli'ngf, the gun mount column so as toibe positioned within most convenient access to the' gun.'

gun mount column designated generally by the co control 'handles and sighting .dew/ice. 'A ycrank is fixed at its opposite end to any suitable stationary structure. and it will be'understood that the crank and elastic cord mechanism will be of the gun l0. However, it will beunderstood that any other suitable' form of latching-'and control mechanisms may be. employed foi-, the

arranged so as to be adaptedy to substantially balance the weight of the gunner and the gunners seat. Hence. the gunner may with utmost facility regulate his vertical disposition relative to the gun mount column by application of suitable pushing forces through his feet and against the cockpit oor and through hishands against the rear end of the gun. A sloping oorboard 49 is preferably provided as shown for this pur- DOse.

Thus, it will-be understood that as the gunner sits upon the seat 44 his legs straddle the lower end portion of the gun mount column 24 and his feet may be firmly planted in relatively widely spaced relation against the iloorboard 49. Consequently, the gunner and'the gun are so mounted as. to .be substantially diametrically opposed in relation to the axis of rotation of -the gun mount column; and through application of simple pressure forces by alternate legs against the floor board the gunner may with. utmost facility cause the entire gun mount mechanism to be adjusted in azimuth for gun aiming purposes.

As explained hereinabove, however, the gun H) is relative to its axis of rotation. Thus, the gunl l is mounted to be aimed with utmost facility through azimuth adjustments provided primarily through rotation of the gun mount column 24 about the vertical axis of the lower portion thereof in response to pressure force differentials transmitted through the legs of the gunner against the oorboard 29. In addition and at all times, secondary azimuth adjustments of the gun in connection with aiming thereof are ob A tainable through simple rotation of/ the gun about the vertical axis of the socket portion i9 of the gun support bracket 20, as may be caused by application of deecting forcesl against the rear end of `the gun through the'hands of the and so as tobe disposed adjacent to the laterally onset portion 32 of the gun mount column and parallel'to the plane of oscillation thereof. 'A

Matching mechanism 52-.is provided upon the gun mount column for detachably latching the latter in different positions 'relativve tothe plate 50.

For example, the latching mechanism 52 may conveniently comprise an electric solenoid actu- 'ated mechanism having a iatch anger s4 adapted to project into recessed portions of the plate 50 which' are arranged in an arc concentrically of Athe axis of rotation of the gun mount column 24. The solenoid mechanism 52 may be conveniently controlled by a manually operable switch mounted upon the hand grip devices at the butt end 75 t0 and -t'o trainftoward the is provided;

Ammunition for thegun I0 isirarranged to be purpose. A Y

An arcuate mil 5B is mounted to extend from a stationary portion of the gun battery enclosure to parallel they orbit of oscillation .of the upper end' of the gun mount column 30, and a second latch device itis mounted upon the gun I mount column for controllably locking the latte into engagement with suitably apertured portions of the rail 56,- as'indicated at 59. As'in the case of the latch mechanism 52, the latch device 58 may be conveniently provided to comprise a solenoid actuated mechanism adapted to be controlled by the' same manually operable switch mounted upon the gun hand grip devices. Thus, the latch' devices 52,-58 maybe arranged to be operated simultaneously and in response to actuation ofl a single control device which is located'within convenient reach of the gunners hands while si.lri'\ ailllillgA and firing 0P- erations are in progress; andwhenever the gunner has accomplished proper primary adjustment of the gun mount position in azimuth through rotation of the entire gunmountand gunners seat assembly about the axis of the. column portion 34, he may thereupon actuate the latch control device toA cause the gunimount column tobe locked in its adjusted position ,relative to the plate 50 and to the rail 56.

Consequently, the gun mount column will be supported at any" such-position of azimuth adjjustment in an improved manner from the standpoint of eiective resistance to horizontally directed reaction forces imposed upon the gun mount structure incidental. to ring of the gun. This is becauseV the lower end portion'of the gun mount columnds at all times rmly supported against horizontal deflection by means of the substantially spaced bearings 3B- 38. ,The intermediate portion .of the gun mount; column is ilrmly supported at opposite ends thereof by means of its vconnection to the lower columrrend portion 34 and to the Vplate 50 throughmeans of theflatch mechanism 52; and iinally, the uriper end portion of the column 301s firmly nxed by means of the widely spaced latch devices 52-,58 to stationary structure ofthe gun mount enclosure. Particular attention is directed to the4 fact that because the latch device 58 comprises a\ pin memberv 59 s'lidable vertically into engage-Y ment with the rail l56, the extreme upper end portion of .the gunmount'column is thereby xed to stationary supporting structure for improved resistance to )gun firing reaction forces in" all horizontaldirections. Therefore it, will i be understood that the gun mount device ofthe invention provides? an arrangement whereby"a gun of relatively heavy calibermay b'e satisfac-r torilymounted upon an upper laterally offset end of .a substantially elongated gun support column which is pivotally mounted at its l`ower end for rotation about a vertical axis'whereby J increased faculty for gun aiming purposes and drm support'of the gun improved rigidity ffor 'beit is indicated'at s2- as being trained arund suitable rollers so as to issue freely from thel baseof asaaeoe the gun mount column 24. To this end the cartridge .belt S2 may be conveniently arranged tc pass below the door line of the gunner-s compartment as indicated at '6d (Fig. 1) and thence around a roller fixed to the stationary floor structure so as to train upwardly therefrom through the interior of the gun mount column portion 3d. 24 at the bends thereof further guide the cartridge belt so as to issue freely through the upper end of the gun support column just below the position of the gun ammunition feedway and approximate vertical alignment therewith. `It will be understood that the cartridge belt will be easily capable of twisting between the positions of the rollers `(i5-Sli in connection with azimuth adjustments of the gun mount column 2t about the axis of its lower portion.

An ammunition belt feeding mechanism is housed. in a casing mounted upon the upper end'of the column 2li. A sprocket wheel1'2 having teeth shaped to engage in geared relation with the cartridge belt 62 is rotatably mounted within the casing 10. A gear train 14 engages the sprocket 12 and is arranged to be driven by an electric motor 15 which is coupledthereto. 'I'he motor-sprocket unit is set within the housing 1d at one end thereof, and a free roller la is mounted in line with1theinterior opening of the column 2d for guiding the change of direction of cartridge belt movement therefrom so as to feed freely into engagement with the sprocket 12. From the sprocket 12 the cartridge belt is arranged to train toward the opposite end of the housing 10 and to be looped thereat about a free roller 1.8 and thence to train in return direction to pass around a guide roller 19 for feeding from the casing 10 in the direction of the ammunition feedway of Athe gun I0. Thus, it will be understood the .ammunition belt is looped within the housing 10 in such form as to ycomprise a lower strand 80 and an upper strand 82;

The roller 1B is carried by bearingsiM-d extending at opposite ends thereof into sliding engagement with opposed slotted portions 86-96 at opposite walls of the housing 1l). Thus, the' roller 18 is mounted to be movable longitudinally of the housing structure in connection with shortening and lengthening of the looped portion 80-82 ofthe cartridge belt. A compression spring 88 is mounted within the` casing to resiliently urge the. roller 18 to move relative to the housing 10 toward its extreme right hand end position as illustrated in Fig. 3 and thus to maintain the looped portion 80-82 of the cartridge Rollers Eli- B8 within thecolumn such direction as to propel the cartridge belt 62 in trie direction of gun feeding.

The motor 15' of course be provided of such power and speed characteristics' that when v energized it will propel the cartridge belt either at a'speedfequal to the ammunition feedfrequire- 'ments of the gun or slightly.. in excess thereof,

whereby the ammunition feed pawl mechanism integral with the gun i0 will be substantially overtaking of :the gun feed pawl mechanism by the cartridge belt driving operation of the sprocket 1 2, the looped portion 80--82 of the cartridge f belt will be thereby relaxed to enable the spring 88 to force the switch control roller 13 to retreat to switch-inoperative position as illustrated in Fig. 3, whereupon the power supply circuit ofthe.

motor 15 will be interrupted land driving propulsion of the cartridge belt by the feed assist mechanism will cease.

Preferably, a cartridge beltl twist relief device -will be'employed as indicated generally at 95 ally and centrally of the ammunition feedwayv portion of the gun, as vby means of rollers 98 carried by the bracket 96 and disposed to engage a grooved circular track portion 99 of the throat. 91 at radially spaced intervals. A cartridge belt guideroller IUIv is carried by thethroat 91 to rotate freely relative thereto and to engage the cartridge belt 62 in trained relation thereabout belt in maximum extended condition. However,

it will be appreciated .that whenever the machine gun feed pawl mechanism drags upon the cartridg belt to commence feeding of ammunition in connection with a gun firing operation the upper strand portionA 82 of the cartridge belt will be thereby tensioned against the weight of the carfinger 90 is carried by the shaft of the'pulley 10 for guiding the cartridge belt through the throat and funnel devices 91-96 into gun feeding position. A housing |01 is formed to encompass the roller |00 to facilitate guiding of the cartridge belt about the roller and into the ammunition feedway of the gun.v

Thus. it will beunderstood that, as'viewed in Fig. 2, the cartridge fb'elt 62 ,will issueY from the feed assist mechanism and will then twist toward the direction of the cartridge belt guide deyice95,

while the pull of the cartridge belt upon the roller .carrying throat 91 of the guide'` device will cause the latter to rotate upon the rollers 98 to assume an attitude whereby` the roller |00 will'substanto move therewith in response to the pull of the tially bisect the angle' between the direction of movement of the cartridge belt toward and away from the guide device. Consequently,` excess twisting or kinking of the ammunition belt at the cartridge feedway slot of thegun is avoided;

device will shift automatically relative to its mounting bracket so as to avoid acute twisting of the cartridge belt between the lpositions .of

the guide ldeviceland the ammunition feedway l v 'of the gun .to prevent jamming of the cartridge belt in the feedway slot of the gun under all com# bat conditions.V

Although only one forml of the invention [has ammunitio apparent to those skilled in tle art that the invention is not so limited but thatyarious changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. f

We claim:

1. A gun mount comprising a. vertically extended tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunitionA discharge portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for mounting in universally pivotable relation thereon a gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide a closed passageway Atherethrough for feeding of a belt of ammunition therethrough for feeding the gun mounted upon 'said mounting means, an lammunition belt drive device mounted upon the ammunit'ion discharge end portion of said gun mount column and operable for propelling said ammunition belt so as to substantially relieve the gun feed pawl mechanism of the loads incidental to elevating said ammunition tothe level of the' gun and accelerating the movement of said ammunition incidental to commencement of each gun firing operation, and latch means carried by said gun mount column for engagement with stationary structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation-of saidgun mount column about said vertical axis.

2. A gun mount comprising an extended tubular column having an ammunition intake end portion rotatably mounted upon abase support to pivot about an axis and a laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion, means carried Y by the outer end of said projecting portion of dental to co u mencement of each gun firing opel ation, and lat h means carried by the outer end of said gun mo t column for detachable engagement with statio n. ry structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axissubsequent to adjustments of said column about said axis. l

3. A gun mount comprising a vertically extendedtubular column having a lower end ammunitionf intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis and aninterni'ediate laterally projecting portion extending therefroni and'carrying an upwardly bent end portion terminating in an ammunition discharge portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for. mounting 'in universally pivotable relation thereon a gun. at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun -mount colunm being hollow to provide a closed passageway for feeding of-a belt of ammunition therethrough for feeding the gun mounted upon said mounting means, and latch means carried by said gun mount column both at the ,lower and upper end portions of the upwardly bent end portions of said column for engagement at separate points with corresponding stationary structures adjacent the orbit of movement -thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axis forazimuth adjustments of said gun mount.

4. In combination, a gun enclosure having an upper deck and a gun emplacement opening therein, a gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base supprt to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion` extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion disposed adjacent said. gun emplacement opening, swivel yoke means carried byy the upper end portion of said column for mounting in universally/,pivotable relation thereon a gun at a position ecentrically of said'vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide a closed passageway therethrough for feedingbf a belt of ammunition therethrough for feeding the gun -mounted upon said mounting means, and latch means carried by said gun mount column projecting portion for engagement with stationary structure adjacent the orbit of movement'thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axis, said swivel yoke means being bodily adjustable relative to said gun mount column under non-combat conditions for pivoting said yoke to stow said gun below the deck of said enclosure.

5. A gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular; column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base Support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said' column for mounting in universally pivotablekrelation thereona gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adj acent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun mount column portions. being hollowed and intercommunicatingl interiorly to provide a closedpassageway for a belt of ammunition feeding therethrough to the gun mounted upon said mounting means,Y an ammunition belt drive device mounted upon the ammunition discharge end portion of said gun mount column and operable 'for propelling said ammunition belt toward said gun, latch means carried by said gun mount column projecting portion for)n engagement with stationary structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to' rotationv of said gun mount column about said vertical axis, and a gunners seat mounted upon said column to ex- .tend diametrically opposed relative to said laterally ,projecting column portion.

6. A` gun mount comprising a `vertically extended tubular column having` a. lower end ,am-

munition intake portion rotatably rrjounted upon a. base support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom andterminating :in an ammunition discharge portion,` meansA carried by the upper end portion ofsaid column for mounting in universally pivotable relation thereon-a gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide a closed passageway for a belt of ammunition feeding therethrough to the gun mounted upon said mounting means, an ammunition belt drive device mounted upon the ammunition discharge end portion of said gun mount column and perable for propelling said ammunition belt toward said gun, latch means carried by said gun mount column projecting portion for engagement with stationary structure adjacent 'the jacent the orbit ofmovement'thereof incidenta1 to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axis, said swivel yokemeans being bodily orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axis, and a gunners seat pivotally mounted upon said column to extend diametrically opposed relative to said laterally projecting column portion, and counterbalance means coupled to said seat and extending into said hollow column for counterbalancing the weight of the gunner and said seat.

7. A gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for mounting in universally pivotable relation thereon a gun at a position eccentrically of said-vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide a closed passageway for a belt of ammunition feeding therethrough to the gunammunition belt toward said gun, latch means adjustable relative to said -gun mount column under non-combat conditions 'for pivoting said yoke to stow said gun belowthe decl: oi' said enclosure, and a gunners seat mounted upon said column to extend diametrically opposed relative to said laterallyprojecting column portion.

9. A gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular column having avertically disposed lower end portion rotatably mounted upon a base support, said column including an intermediate laterally projecting portion extending 'from the upper end of said lower end column portion, and a second vertically extending upper end Vportion carried by the outer end of said laterally projecting column portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for mounting a gun thereon so as to be universally pivotable' relative e thereto, said gun mount column portions being carried by said gun mount column projecting A portion for engagement with stationary structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about said vertical axis, and a-gunners seat mounted upon said column to extend diametrically opposed relative to said laterally projecting column portion, and reel means mounted adjacent said gun for training of said cartridge belt therearound between the positions of `said belt drive device and the feedway port of said' gun for preventing acute twisting of the cartridge beit in the feedway port of .said gun.

8. In combination, a gun enclosure having an upper deck and a gun emplacement opening therein, a gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion disposed adjacent relation thereon a gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition' discharge, said gun mount column yportions being hollowed 'and intercommunicathollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to` provide enclosed. passageway for belts of ammunition to pass therethrough for" feeding the gun mounted upon said mounting means, and an ammunition belty feed assi-st device mounted upon the upper end portion of said gun mount colurrm and automatically operable inconjunction with .the ring operation of a gun mounted thereon for propelling s aid ammunition belt so asto substantially relieve the gun feed pawl mechanism of the loads incidental to elevating said ammunition to the level of the gun and accelerating the move'- ment of said ammunition incidental to commencement of each gun ring' operation, and latch means carried by the upper and lowerA ends I of said second 'vertically extending column portion of said gun mount column for engagement with stationary structure adjacentlthe orbit of movement of said latch means incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about the axis of its tata'bly supported lower end portion..

10. tended tubular column having a lowerl end 4am-N munition intake portion' rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis andA an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion-means carried by the'upper end portion of. said columnfor mounting in uni-` versally pivotable relation thereon a gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point'of ammunition discharge, saidgun mount'column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide a closed p passageway for a belt of ammunition feeding therethrough to the gun mountedfnpon /said 4'mounting means, an ammunition` belt vdrive de.-

vice mounted upon the ammunition discharge end portion of said gun mount column and-,operable for, propelling said ammunition belt towardsaid gun, latch means carried by said g'unfmount column projecting portion for engagement with stationary 'structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said gun mount column about saidv vertical axis, manually operable control means for said latch means carried by said -gun adjacent the gun mount comprising a vertically'ex- 4trigger-control portion Y posed lower end portion rotatably mounted upon a base support, said column including anv intermediate laterally projecting portion extending from the upper end of said lower end column portion, and a second vertically extending upper end portion carried by the outer end of said laterally projecting column portion, means carried by the upper ,end portion of said column for mounting a gun thereon so as to be universally pivotable relative thereto, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunicating interiorly to provide enclosed passageway for belts of ammunitioni to pass therethrough for feeding the gun mounted upon said mounting means, and an ammunition belt feed assist-device mounted upon the upper end portion of said gun mount column and automatically operable in conjunction .with 'the firing operation of a gun mounted thereon for propelling said ammunition belt so as to substantially relieve the gun feed pawl mechanism of the loads incidental to elevating said ammunition to rthe level.of the gun. and accelerating the movement of said ammunition incidental to commencement of each gun firing operation, and latch means carried by thev upper and lower ends of said second vertically extending column portion of said gun mount column for engagement with stationaryy structure adjacentV the orbit of. movement of said latch means incidental to rotation of said gun mount columnabo'ut the axis of lits rotatably supported lower end portion, said latch means being adapted to be controlled by manually operable means carried by said gun adjacent the trigger control por- .tion thereof. f

l2. A gun mount comprising a vertically extendedv tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base' support to pivot about a vertical axis. and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition mounting means, an ammunition belt drive device mounted -Aupon the ammunition discharge end portion of said gun mount column and operable for propelling said ammunitioni belt toward said ,gun and comprising a fr ee roller device. around which said cartridge belt is looped and means responsive to lateral displacement of said roller device in conjunction with the operation o i' an elastic control member in response to slackening or tautening forces in said cartridge belt looped portion to make said belt drive device inoperative or operative, latch means carried by said gun mount column projecting portion for engagement with stationary structure adjacent the orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said jgun mount column about said verti- 13. A gun mount comprising a vertically extended tubular column having a lower end ammunition intake portion rotatably mounted upon a base support to pivot about a vertical axis and an upper laterally projecting portion extending therefrom and terminating in an ammunition discharge portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for mounting in universally pivotable relation thereon, a gun at a position eccentrically of said vertical axis and adjacent the point of ammunition discharge,W

. orbit of movement thereof incidental to rotation of said gun Amount column about s`aid vertical-axis, and an ammunition belt drive device mounted' upon the ammunition discharge end portion of said gun mount column and. operable for propelling said ammunition belt so as to substantially relieve the gun feed pawl mechanism of the loads incidental to ,elevating said ammunition to the level of the gun and accelerating the movement tif said ammunition incidental to commence-l ment of 'each gun firing operation, said belt drive device comprising an electric motor coupled toa belt engaging sprocket and a free" rollerengaging a reversely turned loop portion of said belt,

an elastic force member normally biasingsaid l, free roller toward belt full looped condition, and

a base support, said column including an intermediate laterally projecting portion extending from the upper end of said lower end column portion, and a second vertically extending upper end portion carried by the outer end of said laterally projecting column portion, means carried by the upper end portion of said column for mounting a gun thereon so as to be universally pivotable relative thereto, said gun mount column portions being hollowed and intercommunil' eating interiorly to provide enclosed passageway for belts of ammunition to pass therethrough for feeding the gun mounted upon said mounting means, and an ammunition belt feed assist device mounted upon the upper end portion of said gun mount column and automatically operable in conjunction with the ring operation of a gun mounted thereon for propelling said ammunition i belt so as to substantially relieve the gun 'feed pawl mechanism of the loads incidentalwto elevating said ammunition to the level of the gun and accelerating the movement of said ammunition incidental to commencement of .each gun ring operation, and latch means carried by the laterally projecting portions .of said gun mount column for engagement with stationary structure adjacent the Aorbit ofv movement of said.

latch means incidental to rotation of Vsaid gun mount column about the axis of its rotatably supported lower end portion. y

JOHN C. '1RO'1TER.' i JOHN L. JEWETI. 

